PPSS leader Abhaya Sahoo arrested

The POSCO Pratirodha Sangram Saminit (PPSS) leader Mr. Abhaya Sahoo has been arrested by police at 7.45 pm today (25th November 2011) at a place called ‘Nua Pokhari’ when he was returning from Paradip though Manijangha and Ersama. We got the information that he has been now kept in Jagatpur Police station.

This is part of the game plan of the coward state government to suppress the anti-POSCO movement by hook or by crook. The state government is reportedly finalised the draft of the MoU to be renewed with POSCO. Earlier it has facilitated a private company’s goons to attack our people while we were peacefully protesting against the extension of IOCL road. All these show the nervousness and cowardice of the state government and the haste in which it wants to push through the project.

Earlier also Abhaya Sahoo was arrested in 2008 and was kept in jail for 14 months.

PPSS strongly condemns the arrest of Abhaya Sahoo. We simultaneously make it clear that the impression of government, that our protest will be weakened by this, will be proved incorrect. Our peaceful protest will be stronger and mightier than ever before till POSCO project is scrapped.

We call for all the Jan Andolans, People’s organisations, Political parties, activists, intellectuals and people at large to condemn in strongest possible terms the dastardly act of theadministration. We call for all our friends to demonstrate and demand immediate release of Abahya Sahoo. Also lodge your protest near the following authorities.